Mental distress and mental health conditions are common in late life, and older adults with a mental health condition are more likely to experience disability and reduced quality of life. 

This web report provides a snapshot of what is known about the mental health needs of individuals at the time of assessment for aged care services (that is, prior to, or at, entry to care) and of deaths due to suicide while accessing aged care, using linked data from the National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse and the National Death Index.

Key findings

• Just under 1 in 4 people that received a home care package was recorded with a mental health condition.
• About 58% of people (a higher rate than in the general population of older adults) entering residential aged care are recorded with a mental health condition.
• Death by suicide is more common among people using home care packages than among those living in residential aged care.
• Mental health conditions are less commonly recorded for aged care users with increasing age.